Receipts scanner and financial organizer

ABSTRACT

The system contains a scanner, an apparatus for scanning receipts into a computer and a unique software program which automatically processes, organizes and saves expense information that can be viewed in various formats, namely, tabular statements, pie-charts, etc. The scanner, which accommodates paper of differing sizes, is used to input bills, receipts, bank statements, etc. The scanner is usually connected to a computer through a Universal Serial Bus or a parallel port for easy installation. The software program creates a text file of the scanned data by inclusion of sorting, categories, etc., and automatically saves the information in Quicken Interchange Format, allowing it to be imported into any financial management software for further processing. Each receipt is treated as an individual transaction. Multiple items in the receipt are used to create a “split” transaction with proper customizable categories added. Further, the software also allows for record keeping, budgeting and budget balancing.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/054,390, filed on Jan. 24, 2002 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,746,510), whichclaims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos.60/165,406, filed on Feb. 1, 2001 and 60/175,211, filed on Mar. 14,2001.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a scanner apparatus to scan receipts into acomputer and a software program which automatically organizes all theinformation that can be viewed in various formats, namely, tabularstatements, pie-charts, etc., and allows for record keeping, budgetingand reconciliation.

2. Description of the Related Art

Almost everybody might have wondered at one time or other about wherehis/her salary is going. Many people think “Although I make more thanenough money, I do not know how I am spending it”.

You might have attempted to keep track of how you were spending bysaving all the receipts, checks, bills and notes about cashtransactions, etc. You patiently entered all the receipts into thecomputer (namely into one of the budgeting or finance managing softwareprograms).

This is very laborious and time consuming and after a while you willloose patience and stop entering the data. There ends the plan to knowwhere your salary is going.

Now, with this invention, you can stop wasting your time typing. Simplytake your file of receipts and feed them into the scanner. Withinseconds after scanning the receipts, the software organizes all theinformation into a file on your computer that can be viewed in variousformats. It's fast, easy, and convenient. Once the receipts are scannedinto your computer, you can use the software to manage your expenseinformation.

A thorough patent search resulted in the following related patents butnone of them has proposed so far the idea proposed in this invention.For example, the U.S. Pat. No. 6,240,216 entitled “Method and apparatusfor processing an image, storage medium for storing an image processingprogram” relates to an image method and more particularly to maskprocessing (noise reduction, smoothing of a pattern or the like) ofbinary image data by software.

There are a number of different kinds of scanners commercially availableand some of these have been patented. However, none of them are of thetype described in this invention. When a receipt is fed or inserted thescanner of this invention automatically grabs and moves the receiptwhile it is being scanned and stops at the completion of the scanning ofthe bill. In addition, the data is automatically captured and organizedinto a database which allows the data scanned to be viewable in a numberof predefined formats which also can be customized if desired.

The prior art references describe excellent applicability to variouspurposes other than the purpose the present invention is intended. Forinstance, the U.S. Pat. No. 5,604,640 entitled “Business card scannerand method of use” relates, in general, to optoelectronic devices and,in particular, to scanning mixed media information cards, storing theinformation, and displaying the scanned information in a variety ofdisplay formats. However, feeding and scanning of receipts and havingassociated software program to organize the data is not dealt with.

The U.S. Pat. No. 5,644,663 entitled “Portable image scanner havingmanual or automatic feed” relates to an image scanner for automaticallyscanning a document to optically read out and output image data that ison the document to an image processing device such as a computer, andmore particularly to a portable image scanner capable of selectivelyuniting a cover member to a scanner body to feed a cut-sheet document tobe scanned, or detaching the cover member from the scanner body to movethe independent scanner body on a thick document such as a book.

The U.S. Pat. No. 6,115,241 entitled “Attachment of a mobile scanner toa portable computer” generally relates to a portable scanning system andmore particularly to a versatile attachment of a mobile scanner to aportable computer.

The U.S. Pat. No. 5,897,625 entitled “Automated document cashing system”relates to automated banking systems and machines including those whichemploy or are an improvement on automatic teller machines (ATMs). Thesesystems perform the usual ATM functions and additionally cash moneyorders and checks for the user without the presence or the assistance ofa teller, allow the depositing of cash into the machine and provideadditional functions, such as transferring money by wire, depositingcash into an account or purchasing end user items from the machine.

The U.S. Pat. No. 5,920,877 entitled “Text acquisition and organizingsystem” relates to apparatus for acquiring and manipulating text and,more particularly, to apparatus for acquiring discrete text strings andautomatically formatting those text strings, as they are received, intoa preselected data format structure. There are a number of situations inwhich a researcher or reader may desire to record and organize printedor displayed text included in an existing work for future reference orfor some other future use. As used herein, the term “text” is meant toencompass information that is intended for presentation for humancomprehension and may comprise symbols, phrases, sentences in natural orartificial language, pictures, diagrams, and tables.

There has not been proposed so far a configuration consisting of ascanner and a software program in order to achieve the purpose describedby the present patent application. Thus, none of the prior artreferences proposed the idea of this invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly stated, the invention is an apparatus to scan receipts with asoftware which automatically processes, organizes and saves all theinformation from the scanned receipts. The invention includes a scannerthat is connected to a computer through a Universal Serial Bus (USB)port or parallel port and a software program loaded into the computer.As the receipts are being scanned, all the information from the scannedreceipts is automatically entered into the computer. A user needs toinsert one receipt at a time into this scanner. The receipts can begrocery receipts, various purchase receipts, credit card receipts, bankstatements, etc. The invention automatically collects all the data fromthe receipts the user has scanned, and processes and organizes all theinformation. The software categorizes each transaction, so you haveinstant insight into your expenses. You always know exactly where yourmoney goes. The invention creates reports including Income-Expense, CashFlow, Budget, etc. The invention instantly lets you customize, sort, andsubtotal report information on-screen, and shows where any amount in areport comes from. The invention shows a clear picture of your expenseswith a number of instant graphs. The organized data can also be viewedin tabular form or pie-chart form, etc. The apparatus allows editing theinformation from the scanned receipts. The apparatus also automaticallysaves the information scanned from the receipts in the QuickenInterchange Format (QIF), allowing it to be imported by any financialmanagement program like Quicken, Money, etc. Each scanned receipt willbe turned into an individual transaction. The multiple items in thereceipt will be used to create a “split” transaction with propercustomizable categories. The software loaded into the computer allowsfor record keeping, budgeting and reconciliation.

For example, making a budget is easy but adhering/implementing it isdifficult, but not when you use the system of this invention. Softwareenables you to create a budget. Once you start scanning the receipts, itlets you know at any time where you stand with respect to your budget,whether you kept up or you need adjustment. A budget lets you set a goalfor the amount of money you want to spend in a particular category—forexample, $100 per month for entertainment. Then you can run a monthlybudget report to compare the budgeted amount to the actual amount thatyou spent.

The software allows the data from the receipts to be presented invarious formats. For example, a list of all the items you havepurchased; another list of items you bought from a particular departmentstore; how many times you visited a particular restaurant and how muchyou spent each time; how much you spent for clothes versus food versuseating outside, etc.

Thus, the software is a simple-to-use financial organizer where allreceipt information gets organized into an easily useable format. Thesoftware has lots of features to make your life easier. It allows you tofind any expense. You can also add notes to the transactions. Thesemi-processed data can be imported into one of your already existing orfamiliar programs like Quicken, Money, etc.

Other and further features of this invention will become obvious upon anunderstanding of the illustrative embodiments about to be described orwill be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages notreferred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employmentof the invention in practice.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An embodiment of the present invention will be described hereinafterwith reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1: is a schematic block diagram illustrating the overallarrangement of the scanner and the computer with associated monitor,printer, etc. This overall arrangement is a representative embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 2: is flow chart of the working of the apparatus.

FIG. 3: is an illustration of various forms of scanned receipts.

FIG. 4A: is an example of Tabular form of Organized Information.

FIG. 4B: is an example of Pie-Chart form of Organized Information.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The system, as illustrated in FIG. 1, contains the scanner 1 and thesoftware. The scanner 1 is different from conventional large sizescanners you might have seen in some offices or in copying shops. It isa small, light-weight and portable one, and has cables that connect topower outlet for its power and to a computer 2 for communicating backand forth with it. It is capable of scanning receipts of differentwidths and thicknesses; it has a built-in feeder that takes in receiptsas they are fed, similar to a fax machine where the fax page is sweptin.

FIG. 2 presents a flow chart of the working of the apparatus asexplained in detail below. The scanner 1 is connected to a computer 2using a USB port as illustrated in FIG. 1. Before scanning, the userturns on the scanner 1 and the computer 2. Open the software program byclicking on the icon displayed on the screen (see the monitor 3 inFIG. 1) (Step 10). When the program is loaded into the computer 2 itautomatically creates an icon on the screen (see the monitor 3 in FIG.1). The software opens a window displaying two options (Step 11), toopen an existing file (Step 12) or to open a new file. In the case of anew file, it allows you to select the name of the new file by typing itin (Step 13). Once a file is selected, it displays “ready for scanning”(Step 14) Now you can feed the receipts into the scanner 1 one at a time(Step 15). Click “scanning complete” once you have finished scanning allthe receipts. You will find that all the information from the scannedreceipts is automatically entered into the computer 2 (Step 16). Eachreceipt is entered as a separate transaction using preselected, ordefault categories. You have the flexibility to change the categoriesany time and reconcile. Now the software program in the computer 2 hasorganized all the information (Step 17). This new or updated file isready for viewing on the screen (see the monitor 3 in FIG. 1) and/or forprinting (see the printer 4 in the FIG. 1) (Step 18). Also, afterviewing the file, if needed you can modify or edit each transaction(Step 19). Further, the software also allows for record keeping,budgeting and reconciliation.

Thus, the system “Receipts Scanner and Financial Organizer” is anapparatus to scan receipts and a software to automatically process,organize and save all the information from the scanned receipts; it isconnected to a computer 2 through a USB port and a software programloaded into the computer. When receipts are fed into the scanner, theinvention automatically enters all the information into the computer 2that is connected to the scanner instead of manually typing theinformation in. As receipts are scanned, all the information from thereceipts is automatically entered into computer 2; a software programoperating within the computer 2 processes all the information from thescanned receipts and organizes it. FIG. 3 illustrates various forms ofscanned receipts. The invention allows editing of the information fromthe scanned receipts and organized data. This organized data can beviewed in various formats, namely, tabular form (see FIG. 4A), pie-chartform (see FIG. 4B), etc. The tabular data formats include income-expensereports, planned versus actual budget, list of all expenses withdifferent categories, etc. The invention further processes the data andenables comparison with pre-customized budgets or limits in eachcategory.

The invention also allows QIF formatted data to be imported into anyfinancial organizer program like Quicken, Money, etc.

Possible Extensions

The invention even comes up with suggestions and recommendations usingits large up-to-date data base, namely, how you can save on groceries,how you can improve your health habits, how you can save on insurance,how you can save on travel, compares expenses each month with theprevious month, prompts you when certain payments might have to be made,projects certain future expenses using data it has compiled (like birthdays, marriage days, etc), how you can maintain budget by changing whereyou buy or what brand name item you buy, gathers information for taxes(keeps track of items that go into tax preparations), etc.

1. A non-transitory computer readable medium having computer executableinstructions for performing a method of processing expense information,the method comprising: receiving scanned information of a receipt from ascanner, the scanned information including information regarding varioustypes of receipts having various formats and having different sizes,each of said receipts containing expense information printed thereon;processing said scanned information including numerical data in thereceipt to obtain said expense information from said scannedinformation; categorizing said expense information for each receipt intoone or more predetermined categories to obtain categorized informationfor each receipt, wherein said categorized information for each receiptis combined with categorized information for other said receipts toproduce report information for one or more of said predeterminedcategories, wherein the various types of receipts include groceryreceipts, purchase receipts, credit card receipts and bank statements.2. A non-transitory computer readable medium as claimed in claim 1,wherein the scanned information is received via a USB port or a passthrough parallel port from the scanner.
 3. A non-transitory computerreadable medium as claimed in claim 1, wherein the scanned informationfrom the scanned receipts is automatically received from the scanner,and the expense information for each receipt is captured from thescanned information for each receipt and categorized into one or more ofsaid predetermined categories.
 4. A non-transitory computer readablemedium as claimed in claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:outputting the report information to a display device for display in atabular form, a pie-chart form, or as a text file.
 5. A non-transitorycomputer readable medium as claimed in claim 4, wherein formats of thereport information may be output to be displayed in tabular form, suchformats including income-expense reports, expenses versus plannedbudget, cash flow, or a list of all expenses grouped under said one ormore predetermined categories.
 6. A non-transitory computer readablemedium as claimed in claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:enabling editing the expense information obtained from each of thescanned receipts.
 7. A non-transitory computer readable medium asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the method further comprises: saving theexpense information processed from the scanned receipts in QuickenInterchange Format, thereby allowing the expense information obtainedfrom the scanned information to be imported by a financial managementprogram.
 8. A non-transitory computer readable medium as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the method further comprises: organizing each scannedreceipt as an individual transaction so that the expense informationobtained from the scanned information for each scanned receipt is ableto be individually viewed and edited.
 9. A non-transitory computerreadable medium as claimed in claim 8, wherein multiple items in thereceipt are used to create a split transaction having the categorizedinformation categorized into customizable categories.
 10. Anon-transitory computer readable medium as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe method further comprises: outputting information to enabledisplaying tabular data on a display device for comparison withpre-customized budgets or limits in each said one or more predeterminedcategory.
 11. A non-transitory computer readable medium as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the scanned information is information regardingreceipts that are optically scanned and converted to a correspondingdigital image containing the expense information therein.
 12. Anon-transitory computer readable medium as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe method further comprises: outputting the expense information in auser selected format which includes a tabular statement, a pie chart anda text file.
 13. A non-transitory computer readable medium havingcomputer executable instructions for performing a method of processingexpense information, the method comprising: receiving scannedinformation of a receipt from a scanner, the scanned information beinginformation regarding various types of receipts of various formats, eachof said receipts containing expense information printed thereon, saidscanner outputting a scan of each receipt to software as expenseinformation; processing said scanned information by collecting saidexpense information from said scanned information; organizing saidexpense information collected from said scanned information of each ofsaid receipts by categorizing said expense information into one or morepredetermined expense categories to obtain report information; andoutputting said report information for at least one of saidpredetermined categories to a display device.
 14. A non-transitorycomputer readable medium as claimed in claim 13, wherein the scannedinformation is information of receipts that are of various formatsincluding grocery receipts, purchase receipts, credit card receipts orbank statements and having different sizes.
 15. A non-transitorycomputer readable medium as claimed in claim 13, wherein the methodfurther comprises: editing the expense information collected from thescans of each of said receipts.
 16. A non-transitory computer readablemedium as claimed in claim 13, wherein the method further comprises:saving the expense information collected from the scans of said receiptsin Quicken Interchange Format, thereby enabling the expense informationcollected from the scans to be imported by a financial managementprogram.
 17. A non-transitory computer readable medium as claimed inclaim 13, wherein the method further comprises: organizing each scan ofsaid receipts as an individual transaction so that the expenseinformation obtained from each scanned receipt is able to beindividually viewed and edited.
 18. A non-transitory computer readablemedium as claimed in claim 13, wherein the scanner optically scansreceipts and converts the receipts to a scan which is a correspondingdigital image containing the expense information therein.
 19. Anon-transitory computer readable medium as claimed in claim 13, whereinthe method further comprises: outputting the expense information in auser selected format which includes a tabular statement, a pie chart anda text file.
 20. A system which processes and organizes expenseinformation, comprising: a scanner to scan various types of receiptshaving various formats and having different sizes, each of said receiptscontaining expense information including numerical data printed thereon,where said scanner produces scanned information from each of saidreceipts; a computer in communication with said scanner, to receive saidscanned information, process said scanned information of each of saidreceipts to obtain said expense information, and categorize said expenseinformation into one or more predetermined categories to obtaincategorized information for each of said receipts; and a display deviceto display said categorized information for each of said receipts asreport information for one or more of said predetermined categories,wherein the various types of receipts include grocery receipts, purchasereceipts, credit card receipts and bank statements.
 21. A system whichprocesses and organizes expense information as claimed in claim 20,wherein the scanned information is received via a USB port or a passthrough parallel port from the scanner.
 22. A system which processes andorganizes expense information as claimed in claim 20, wherein thescanned information from the scanned receipts is automatically receivedfrom the scanner, and the expense information for each receipt iscaptured from the scanned information for each receipt and categorizedinto one or more of said predetermined categories.
 23. A system whichprocesses and organizes expense information as claimed in claim 20,wherein the report information to be displayed is in a tabular form, apie-chart form, or as a text file.
 24. A system which processes andorganizes expense information as claimed in claim 23, wherein formats ofthe report information may be output to be displayed in tabular form,such formats including income-expense reports, expenses versus plannedbudget, cash flow, or a list of all expenses grouped under said one ormore predetermined categories.
 25. A system which processes andorganizes expense information as claimed in claim 20, wherein thecomputer edits the expense information obtained from each of the scannedreceipts.
 26. A system which processes and organizes expense informationas claimed in claim 20, wherein the computer saves the expenseinformation processed from the scanned receipts in Quicken InterchangeFormat, thereby allowing the expense information obtained from thescanned information to be imported by a financial management program.27. A system which processes and organizes expense information asclaimed in claim 20, wherein the computer organizes each scanned receiptas an individual transaction so that the expense information obtainedfrom the scanned information for each scanned receipt is able to beindividually viewed and edited.
 28. A system which processes andorganizes expense information as claimed in claim 27, wherein multipleitems in the receipt are used to create a split transaction having thecategorized information categorized into customizable categories.
 29. Asystem which processes and organizes expense information as claimed inclaim 20, wherein the display device displays report information astabular data for comparison with pre-customized budgets or limits ineach of said one or more predetermined categories.
 30. A system whichprocesses and organizes expense information as claimed in claim 20,wherein the scanned information is information regarding receipts thatare optically scanned and converted to a corresponding digital imagecontaining the expense information therein.
 31. A system which processesand organizes expense information as claimed in claim 20, wherein theexpense information organized by the computer is in a user selectedformat which includes a tabular statement, a pie chart and a text file.32. A system which processes and organizes expense information,comprising: a scanner to scan various types of receipts having variousformats, each of said receipts containing expense information includingnumerical data printed thereon, where said scanner outputs scannedinformation from each of said receipts as expense information; acomputer in communication with said scanner, to receive said expenseinformation collected from each of said receipts, process said expenseinformation by collecting said expense information for each of saidreceipts, and organize said expense information collected for each orsaid receipts by categorizing said expense information into one or morepredetermined categories to obtain report information; and a displaydevice to display said report information for one or more of saidpredetermined categories.
 33. A system which processes and organizesexpense information as claimed in claim 32, wherein the scannedinformation is information of receipts that are of various formatsincluding grocery receipts, purchase receipts, credit card receipts orbank statements and having different sizes.
 34. A system which processesand organizes expense information as claimed in claim 32, wherein thecomputer edits the expense information collected from each of saidreceipts.
 35. A system which processes and organizes expense informationas claimed in claim 32, wherein the computer saves the expenseinformation collected from the scans of said receipts in QuickenInterchange Format, thereby enabling the expense information collectedfrom the scans to be imported by a financial management program.
 36. Asystem which processes and organizes expense information as claimed inclaim 32, wherein the computer organizes each scan of said receipts asan individual transaction so that the expense information obtained fromeach scanned receipt is able to be individually viewed and edited.
 37. Asystem which processes and organizes expense information as claimed inclaim 32, wherein the scanner optically scans receipts and converts thereceipts to a scan which is a corresponding digital image containing theexpense information therein.
 38. A system which processes and organizesexpense information as claimed in claim 32, wherein the expenseinformation organized by the computer is in a user selected format whichincludes a tabular statement, a pie chart and a text file.